Accepted into Start-up Chile still thinking about YC... | Hacker News Reader

Accepted into Start-up Chile still thinking about YC...

5 pointspedalpete6 comments

Startup Chile announced their winners earlier today and I was accepted. You can see the list here http://www.startupchile.org/154-startups-selected-in-start-up-chiles-2nd-round-of-2011/

Now comes decision time, though of course I've been tossing it around in my head for a long time already.

On the plus side of Chile, I've never lived in a non-english/western country. I can definitely use the money and connections to help grow my business.

One of the challenges for me is that from a friend who lives in Chile, I've heard that my product doesn't really suit the Chilean market.

At the same time, I've already made a few great business connections in the industry, so I'm not a completely unknown factor.

Any suggestions on how to decide, plus or minuses that others have considered?

Congrats to all those who were accepted.

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I'm thinking of applying for the next round.

Even if your product doesn't suit the local market, and even if you don't plan on keeping a presence in Chile after the six months is over, consider this: you'll be spending lots of time around hundreds of other interesting people, all of them getting paid with no strings attached to work on an idea they're passionate about. In a completely unfamiliar country. It's a grand experiment in anarchy, I think, and who knows what will emerge on the other side...

I'd consider going to Chile even if I don't make it in the official programme.

Totally agreed with that. Let me know when you're planning to come to Chile.

According to their site/docs, Startup Chile's aim is for startups to ideally use Chile as a springboard to global business, and in the process rub off some entrepreneurial spirit on Chileans. Since you applied, I assume you must have read their materials closely, so how/where did you get the impression that their local market is the main focus?

Since you haven't been accepted into YC as of now, I'd say this is one hell of a good bird in hand... You should probably accept now and if you get into YC, then withdraw your Chile acceptance. This is assuming that: You've already applied to YC and can find out if you got in within the next couple weeks. There's sufficient time lag between now and when you're expected to report in Chile.

You can also just do Chile for now then plan for YC after *if you would still need it then.

You don't have to worry about Chilean market or focus on that, in your time here in Chile.

Well you do not need to necessarily have a product that suits the Chilean market per se. Plus, you have one lone data point - perhaps he doesn't know the market as well as he thinks.

In any case,I think the connections would be great, the publicity would be very helpful and the cash would be extremely beneficial (with no strings attached).

If it is tech then you can always run things remotely anyway. You'll be in a cheaper environment for a few months and then you can go wherever you'd like. What is your product? That might help us with the decision (though I understand if you do not want to share openly)

I was in the exact same situation in last April, but it wasn't YC.

Actually we had been accepted and made final ten of two of well known incubators in US. I got my US visa but my co-founder wasn't available to get a quick visa in that time.

Now, I've been living in Chile almost three months and thrilled with what Start-Up Child is offering to us. Our story will probably continue with follow-up accelerator in US which we've a good track record on getting in to programs like that.

I highly recommend you to participate Start-Up Chile anyway. Let me know if you have any questions.

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